World Soccer Talk is proud to reveal its latest soccer short film entitled World Cup Memories, which features exclusive interviews with soccer stars Steve McManaman, Michael Ballack, Alexi Lalas and Craig Burley as they discuss their earliest memories of the World Cup, what it was like playing in the ultimate soccer tournament, and what it’s been like working for ESPN.

McManaman explains why he thinks the duo of him and Ian Darke resonated with soccer viewing audiences on ESPN2, while Lalas goes back in time to remember his proudest moments playing for the red, white and blue at World Cup 1994. German legend Michael Ballack shares what it was like to play in front of his home country during World Cup 2006, while ESPN FC pundit Craig Burley reveals what it was like to play for Scotland against Brazil in a World Cup.

The interviews and footage were shot by World Soccer Talk videographer Joshua Tomlinson as well as interviews by Kartik Krishnaiyer during a recent visit to ESPN’s headquarters in Bristol, Connecticut. The scene you see at the very end of the video is a long corridor adjacent to the cafeteria at ESPN HQ. The opening shot of the photograph of Pele is featured on a wall in the same ESPN building.

At the very beginning of the video, you can see the ESPN pundits and Bob Ley on set for the World Cup Draw, seconds before they went on-air to share their reaction to the names “picked out of the hat.”

About Christopher Harris

Founder and publisher of World Soccer Talk, Christopher Harris is the managing editor of the site. He has been interviewed by The New York Times, The Guardian and several other publications. Plus he has made appearances on NPR, BBC World, CBC, BBC Five Live, talkSPORT and beIN SPORT.
Harris, who has lived in Florida since 1984, has supported Swansea City since 1979. He's also an expert on soccer in South Florida, and got engaged during half-time of a MLS game.
Harris launched EPL Talk in 2005, which was rebranded as World Soccer Talk in 2013.
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Clap Clap Clap Clap Clap!!! Well done Gaffer, and to everyone who made this! LOVED the interviews, and that final credits scene with all the years and pictures really made me proud to be a football fan. As a side note, I really liked what Alexi Lalas said near the end when asked what his favorite thing was. He mentioned Bob Ley and how much he LOVED the sport. To me, that is so encouraging to hear! I love to know that the world cup is in such good hands, and that the commentators and pundits are in it for the love of the sport, not some paycheck!

Thanks Yepo for the kind comments. We put our hearts and souls into making the video, and World Soccer Talk paid for the entire trip and expenses. We wanted to capture the energy and characters inside ESPN in-person in their own studio instead of via Skype or Google Hangout where there’s a distance and disconnect.